Officials seek means to successfully cultivate buckwheat in Shan State (North)
YANGON, 21 Oct – A meeting was held this afternoon to
coordinate formation of the supervisory committee to successfully implement the project to cultivate poppy substitute
buckwheat in regions of Shan (North) in 1999-2000, addressed by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races
and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt.
The meeting which was held at the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs was also attended by Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Brig-Gen Than Tun, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Deputy Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, General Staff Officer (Grade-1) of North-East Command Lt-Col Than Myint, Chairman of Laukkai District Organization and Administration Group Lt-Col Khin Maung Tin and officials.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the poppy substitute backwheat cultivation began in 1997, during which five acres were put under the crop; in 1998, the crop was cultivated on 200 acres and in 1999 on 2,000 acres. As the buckwheat is the poppy substitute crop, buckwheat project implementation committees at different levels should render effective supervision to ensure success and system in the tasks.
Director-General of Department for Development of Border Areas and National Races Col Wunna Maung Lwin explained programmes to cultivate buckwheat.
Later, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Brig-Gen Than Tun, Deputy Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and Deputy Director-General of Department for Development of Border Areas and National Races Lt-Col Myint Swe also took part in the discussions.
The meeting ended with concluding remarks by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt.